System and method for transaction card electronic messaging

ABSTRACT

A system and method for delivering electronic messages automatically to transaction cards. The transaction cards are capable of rendering electronic messages from a server using a transaction activated connection. This system can be used to automatically deliver user specific information such as calendar, reminder, or e-mail information to a person scanning their card in, for example, a building where scanning a badge is required to enter the building. Alternatively, the system can be used to automatically deliver public information to a user such as advertisements to a render-capable transaction card which includes, for example, a calling card, a credit card, or a public transportation access card.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/481,358, filed on Jul. 5, 2006, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORTRANSACTION CARD ELECTRONIC MESSAGING”, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and method for delivering electronicmessages from a server to a transaction card via a network, and moreparticularly, to a system and method for delivering electronic messagesautomatically from a server to one or more transaction cards which arecapable of rendering electronic messages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, electronic message communication is extensively used as aninformation transmission means. For example, pervasive digital devicessuch as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smart cards have becomemore useful and powerful. Further examples include, texting messages,email, and instant messaging using personal computers and cell phones.Transaction cards are ubiquitous and relied upon by users to purchasegoods and engage in banking transactions, enter secure facilities,record data such as entering and leaving time of a facility or area, andmany other functions. In general, a transaction card uses a magneticstripe or an embedded silicon chip to store a personal profile or securedata on the transaction card and provides means for enabling access tothe stored data or information using, e.g., electronic card swipe orlike card reader mechanisms. Other non-secure data such as a logo, orcustomer service information are hard-printed on the surface of thetransaction cards and stay unchanged throughout the card's life cycle.Users rarely pay attention to what is printed on the surface of thetransaction cards. Therefore, the real estate on the transaction card isnot well utilized for messaging or advertising to the card user.

Further, traditional transaction cards such as credit cards, phonecards, public transportation access cards, etc. are still widely used inmost people's daily life. A transaction card is highly portable, andthereby it would be desirable to have a transaction card become part ofa telecommunications system. Such a transaction card would enablesend-users to receive communications, as well as, interact with a networkusing electronic digital communication by consistently or periodicallyconnecting to a server, a network node, or like networked computingdevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and method for dynamically deliveringand rendering electronic messages on a transaction card. In a preferredaspect of the invention, the system includes a server workstation orlike computing device executing applications that generate an electronicmessage, a network communications link for enabling communication of theelectronic message to/from the server, and a transaction card readerwhich provides read and write function for reading/writing datainformation from/to a transaction card and is adapted to communicate thedata/information with the network via the communication link. Thetransaction card includes a power source, and a rendering componentwhich communicates to a user the electronic message from the network.

In a related aspect of the invention, a communication elementcommunicates with the transaction card reader. The communication elementidentifies the transaction card to the server, and the communicationelement receives the electronic message and a processing elementinteracts with the communication element by forwarding the electronicmessage to the rendering element.

In a related aspect of the invention, the transaction card includes anidentification (ID). The server application differentiates messages aspersonal and public in accordance with the ID, and the server deliversthe electronic message to a corresponding transaction card.

In a related aspect of the invention, the transaction card furtherincludes a storage element interacting with the communication elementand the processing element for storing at least part of the electronicmessage.

In a related aspect of the invention, the transaction card reader readsand writes to the communication element.

In a related aspect of the invention, the rendering element, thecommunication element, and the processing element include circuitry tocommunicate therebetween.

In a related aspect of the invention, the communications elementincludes a wireless receptor for receiving the message from thetransaction card reader.

In a related aspect of the invention, the communication element and theprocessing element receive and transmit a hyper-link to the renderingelement.

In a related aspect of the invention, the rendering element includesspeakers for communicating to the user.

In a related aspect of the invention, the rendering element includeselectronic paper for displaying a text message.

In a related aspect of the invention, the rendering element includes alight emitting element visible to the user.

In a related aspect of the invention, the transaction card furtherincludes a transaction card ID, and a communication element foridentifying the transaction card to the server using the transactioncard ID. The communication element receives a specific electronicmessage associated with the transaction card ID, and a processingelement interacting with the communication element by transmitting theelectronic message to the rendering element.

In a related aspect of the invention, the transaction card furtherincludes a storage element interacting with the communication elementand the processing element for storing at least part of the electronicmessage and the transaction card ID.

In another aspect of the invention, a system for dynamically deliveringand rendering electronic messages on a transaction card comprises aserver executing an application for generating an electronic message. Anetwork enables communication between the server and a transaction cardreader for transporting the electronic message. A transaction cardcommunicates with the network via the transaction card reader, and acommunications element is integral with the transaction card and adaptedto communicate information with the transaction card reader. Aprocessing element is integral with the transaction card andcommunicates with the communications element. The processing element isadapted to receive information from the communications element. Astorage element is integral with the transaction card and communicateswith the processing element, and the storage element is adapted toreceive and store information from the processing element. A renderingelement is integral with the transaction card and communicates with theprocessing element. The rendering element is adapted to communicate to auser the electronic message from the network. A power source is integralwith the transaction card and adapted to supply power to the processing,storage, and rendering elements.

In a related aspect of the invention the processing element retrievesinformation from the storage element and transmits the information tothe rendering element.

In a related aspect of the invention the processing, communication,rendering, and storage element include circuitry for communicatingtherebetween and are coupled to the power source.

In a related aspect of the invention the transaction card reader isadapted to read and write to the communications element of thetransaction card.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for dynamically deliveringand rendering electronic messages on a transaction card comprisesproviding a transaction card and a transaction card reader. Providing aserver including a program capable of processing data and transportingdata, and providing network communication between the transaction cardreader and the server. The step of communicating data between thetransaction card and the transaction card reader and then communicatingthe data to the server via the network. The step of processing the dataat the server, and the step of generating an electronic message from theserver. The step of transporting the electronic message to thetransaction card reader via the network, and the step of receiving theelectronic message on the transaction card. Lastly, communicating theelectronic message on the transaction card to a user.

In a related aspect of the invention communicating the informationbetween the transaction card and the transaction card reader includesswiping the transaction card through the transaction card reader.

In a related aspect of the invention, communicating the electronicmessage on the transaction card includes displaying the message as text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred electronic messaging systemdepicting a render-capable transaction card, a server, a network, and atransaction card reader;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the present inventiondepicting steps for managing transaction card electronic messaging;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the render-capable transactioncard showing a rendering component;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the render-capable transactioncard showing render-capable electronic paper; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the render-capable transactioncard including audio speakers for emanating sounds and a light emittingarea.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for automaticallydelivering electronic messages to render-capable transaction cards froma server using a transaction activated network connection. Arender-capable transaction card has the ability to display text of anelectronic message to a user. The render-capable transaction card mayalso communicate a message to a user by alternative means, such as,displaying colors, or emitting sounds. For example, devices which couldbe made render-capable include, badges for scanning into buildings,calling cards for making phone calls, credit cards/debit cards formaking purchases, or public transportation access cards for accessing,for example, subways, railroads, trolleys, or other similar processesusing card-like devices. The electronic messaging system of the presentinvention may also comprise transactions from, or identifications of, alarge amount of render-capable transaction cards, a plurality oftransaction card readers connected through a network, and/or anelectronic messaging server through which electronic messages aredelivered to multiple transaction cards when connected.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the electronic messaging system 10according to the present invention which includes an electronicmessaging server 30. The server 30 maybe a network or web server,network node, database server, workstation, or any networked computingdevice capable of supplying messages. The server 30 communicates with atransaction card reader 16 via a network 18 for delivering electronicmessages to a render-capable transaction card 12. The network 18 mayinclude, for example, wired or wireless networks, LAN, WAN, public orprivate intranet, the internet, etc. In an example embodiment, theelectronic messaging system 10 may include a plurality of transactioncard readers 16 connected through the network 18 to the server 30. Theelectronic messaging server 30 of the system 10 delivers the electronicmessage to a transaction card 12. The transaction card 12 interfaceswith the card reader 16 for read/write access of the electronic messageby a user swiping the card through a channel or slot 14 in thetransaction card reader 16.

The transaction card reader 16 channel 14 shown in FIG. 1 provides forswipe card data read/write access, however, it is also envisioned thatcommunication with the transaction card 12 may be accomplished usingcontact-less proximity scanning or other means for reading thetransaction card, such as, wireless infrared or optical communicationmeans etc. Further, it is envisioned that the transaction card readerincludes a reader which can be fed and retain a card for several secondsto read information from the card, as well as, write information to thecard before presenting the card to the user. The transaction card 12 maybe any render-capable transaction card, for example, a badge, a callingcard, a credit card, or a public transportation access card.

It is envisioned that the transaction card reader 16 shown in FIG. 1 isadapted to swiping transaction cards for public access, such as trains,such that the card 12 is read and written to in a one swipe timeinterval. The corresponding message is sent from server 30 via a localnetwork or on site computer capable of transmitting the correspondingmessage within the one swipe time frame.

In another embodiment according to the invention, for user specificinformation, it is envisioned that the transaction card is loaded in atransaction card reader (not shown) which holds the card for severalseconds to read and write a user specific message to the card, and thenpresents the card to the user. In this case, the user may be entering asecure building site or building complex. The transaction card 12 is fedinto a card reader (not shown) which reads and sends a correspondinguser specific message to the card, and then presents the card to theuser.

In one embodiment of the invention, the render-capable transaction card12 includes an electronic message rendering component 22 such asrender-capable electronic paper 23, as shown in FIG. 4, formed on orintegrated with the front surface 21 of the transaction card 12.Electronic paper display in contrast to traditional display technologiescan be used to display electronic messages on a paper-like electronicpaper. Electronic paper 23 may be used to display specified colorshaving any number of predetermined meanings to the user. The renderingcomponent 22 may additionally comprise an audio device such as speakers25, as shown in FIG. 5 for rendering the electronic message as an audiosound signal. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a light emitting element 27is depicted for indicating to the user any number of preset messages,such as flashing different color lights to indicate correspondingmessages, or having the light on indicating to report to a previouslyspecified location, etc.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, the transaction card12 may receive a local message generated from the transaction cardreader when communicating with the transaction card. The transactioncard reader would read and write the message to the transaction cardlocally when the transaction card is either swiped or fed into thetransaction card reader. The transaction card would thereby display themessage via the rendering component.

Referring to FIG. 1, on the other surface 13 of the transaction card 12there is provided a processing component 24 which includes circuitry, oran embedded microprocessor device or like processing device (ASIC) forexecuting electronic messaging rendering according to the invention. Astorage component 26 includes circuitry coupled to the processingcomponent 24 circuitry to provide storage capability of informationreceived from the processing component 24 for the transaction card 12.The transaction card 12 further includes a communications component 28including a magnetic stripe 29 or magstripe.

The communications component 28 further includes circuitry coupled tothe processing component to communicate information therebetween such asa user's identification (ID) to be transmitted to a server 30, or amessage received from the server transmitted to the communicationscomponent 24. Additionally, contact-less proximity scanning between acard reader and the card 12 may transmit information to a wirelessreceptor of the communications component 28 having circuitry to receiveand forward the data to the processing component 24 of the transactioncard 12. A paper-thin power supply component 20 provides the power forthe components 28, 24, and 26, and speakers 25, light 27, and renderingcomponent 22.

Referring to FIG. 3, the render-capable transaction card 12 includes arendering component 22 on the one surface 21 of the transaction card 12.The rendering component 22 includes circuitry coupled to the processingcomponent 24. The rendering component displays different types ofelectronic messages, e.g., text, lights, and/or can be adapted to rendersounds. The rendering component 22, shown in FIG. 4, furtheraccommodates render-capable electronic paper 23 for displaying themessages. Electronic paper is typically comprised of ultra-thin plastic.One form of electronic display generally includes electronic ink printedonto a sheet of plastic film that is laminated to a layer of circuitry.The circuitry forms a pattern of pixels that can then be controlled by adisplay driver.

A component of electronic ink is a plethora of tiny microcapsules, aboutthe diameter of a human hair. As an example, each microcapsule maycontain positively charged white particles and negatively charged blackparticles suspended in a clear fluid. When a negative electric field isapplied, the white particles move to the top of the microcapsule wherethey become visible to the user as white. At the same time, an oppositeelectric field pulls the black particles to the bottom of themicrocapsules where they are hidden. When the process is reversed, theblack particles appear at the top of the capsule such that the surfaceappears dark at that spot. The microcapsules are suspended in a liquidcarrier medium allowing them to be printed using existingscreen-printing processes onto virtually any surface, including glass,plastic, fabric and even paper.

Generally, writing data to a card's magnetic stripe requires the use ofan encoder. A card reader can understand the information on the magneticstripe. A reader detects the changes in its magnetic field caused by theflux reversals on the card's magnetic stripe. Typically, card readersuse a swipe reader, where the card is swiped through a long narrow slotthat is open at each end, or an insert reader, where the card isinserted into a small receptacle that is just large enough toaccommodate the card, or a proximity reader, where the card is held infront of the blank face of the reader. All of which readers areenvisioned as embodiments for reading and writing to the magnetic stripe28 of the transaction card 12 according to the present invention. It isalso envisioned that a card reader according to the present inventionmay include circuitry which communicates information to the storagecomponent in the transaction card.

The communications component 28 via the magnetic stripe 29 establishes aconnection between the processing component 24 and the card reader 16and ultimately the remote electronic messaging server 30. The connectionbetween the processing component 24 and the server 30 is establishedusing the network 18 to accommodate communication between the cardreader 16 and the processing component 24. The circuitries on therender-capable transaction card 12 are powered by the power component20, such as a battery. The processing component 24 in the transactioncard 12 receives electronic messages from the communication link 14 ofthe transaction card reader 16 and processes the messages to determinehow the electronic messages should be rendered or stored. The renderingcomponent 22 displays a text message. However, other communicationformats are supported such as sounds, or indicating colors having apredetermined meaning to the user.

For example, the transaction card 12 can be used as a badge for IDscanning entry to buildings, a credit card/debit card for makingpurchases, or a calling card for making a phone call. Electronic “daytimer” messages such as calendar, reminder, and e-mail are rendered onthe render-capable transaction cards upon login or call acceptance.

In another preferred mode of the present invention, the transaction cardcan be used as a public transportation access card for accessing, forexample, subways, busses, or trains. Electronic advertisement can bedelivered and displayed on the public transportation access card uponsuccessful connection. The electronic advertisement can further betailored to each individual profile when the card has a personal IDencoded on the magnetic stripe 29 or stored in transaction card 12storage component 26. When the transaction card 12 has a personal ID,the server can deliver a corresponding message to the card by using acorrespondence table stored in the server 30 that maps a user ID with aparticular message and accessible by the program 100 implementing themethodologies will be described in greater detail with respect to FIG.2.

The transaction card may also receive a hyper-link address. The user canthen further pursue the hyperlink information from an internet capablelocation by inputting the hyper-link address a computer, hand heldpersonal computer, or the like.

FIG. 2 depicts an example embodiment of a program 100 executing on theserver 10 shown in FIG. 1 that initiates electronic message renderingfor transaction cards according to the invention. More particularly, theprogram 100 is capable of associating and managing the correspondencebetween a transaction card's identification (ID) and a user's electronicmessages. The program 100 also determines which transaction card reader16 and transaction card 12 is making requests and consequently deliversthe corresponding electronic messages to the corresponding transactioncard 12.

The first step 110 of the program 100 includes registering eachtransaction card reader 16 and select transaction cards 12 with theserver 30 program 100. The transaction cards are either associated withthe individual users of the electronic messaging system and therebyregistered, or categorized as general public transaction cards that haveno association with a specific user. The cards without association to aspecific user receive generalized messages, while the cards associatedwith individual users can receive user-specific targeted electronicmessages, as well as, generalized messages. The transaction card reader16 may include an identification associated with a specific location andwill be used for selecting corresponding electronic messages when aconnected transaction card is categorized as a general publictransaction card. Thereby, a generalized message will be sent to a cardaccessing such a reader.

In step 115, the correspondence between transaction card IDs ortransaction card reader IDs and electronic messages for each user ismanaged by a correspondence table. That is, in an off-line process, thetable is generated for the server to associate a message with a user,card or location etc.

Next, in step 120, the electronic messages for each user referenced bythe corresponding table is updated as needed.

In step 125, the electronic messaging server continuously monitors therequest from each transaction card.

In step 130, a transaction card ID and reader ID is received, theprogram 100 identifies the corresponding electronic messages based oneither the transaction card 12 ID or reader 16 identification using itscorrespondence (look-up) table generated in step 115.

In step 140 the electronic messages are communicated to the transactioncard for rendering. For example, the protocol for communication mayinclude TCP/IP, HTTP, or secure sockets, serial data stream.

Lastly, in step 145, the activity for each electronic message deliverycan also be logged for other purposes.

In operation, the electronic messaging server 30 is equipped with atransaction card interface capable of identifying the user using thetransaction cards 12 as whether a user is a public user or a user havinga specific ID. When a user has a specific ID, the server 30 includes ameans to specify the electronic messages each individual user isentitled to receive. The identification of the user is accomplished byassociating or categorizing in advance the individual users transactioncard as use for general public devices, which have no association withany specific individual users, or specific users with correspondingtransaction card readers (not shown) and transaction card IDs. Theelectronic messaging server 30 is equipped with a correspondence tablestoring means for storing a table of correspondence between transactioncards 12 IDs, the electronic messages for each user, and the user'slocation. The transaction card reader, upon successful interface with atransaction card 12, transmits the transaction card 12 ID via thenetwork 18 to the electronic messaging server 30. The electronicmessaging server 30 identifies the electronic messages corresponding tothe user of the transaction card ID by referencing the correspondencetable, and transmits the corresponding electronic messages to the user.Thereby, the electronic messages transmitted to the user are renderedand viewed on the rendering component of the render-capable transactioncard 12.

An embodiment of the present invention includes providing thetransaction card 12, the transaction card reader 16, and the server 30capable of reading sending a message. In operation, the transaction card12 is swiped through the channel 14 of the transaction card reader 16 inthe preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to access a public site, suchas public transportation. Within that one swipe transaction, thecommunication component 28 transmits the card ID from the magneticstripe 29 using the transaction card reader 16, and the network 18 tothe server 30. The server 30 processes the information via the look-uptable, accesses a corresponding message which, in this case, is for apublic access card, via the same return path. The communicationcomponent 28 of the card 12 reads the data message received via theswipe, and processes the data using the processing component 24. Theprocessing component 24 transmits data to the storage component 26and/or transmits data to the rendering component 22 for display. Thestorage component 26 may hold part of a lengthy message, a URL (uniformresource locator, or web site address), as well as the transaction cardID. Multiple messages may be stored in the storage component anddisplayed sequentially, such that text is scrolled across the displayarea of the rendering component 22.

Another embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 1,includes providing the transaction card 12, a transaction card reader(not shown), and the server 30 capable of sending a message. Inoperation, the transaction card 12 is fed into a card reader (notshown). The card reader keeps the card for several seconds during aread/write cycle while the server 30 is accessed through the network 18utilizing the internet, or a wide area network. Similar to the operationafter swiping the transaction card, within the read/write cycle,communication component 28 transmits the card ID from the magneticstripe 29 and the network 18 to the server 30. The server 30 processesthe information via the look-up table, accesses or generates acorresponding message which is user specific and may also include anadditional public message. The communication component 28 of the card 12reads the data message received via the card reader, and processes thedata using the processing component 24. The transaction card 12 is thenpresented to the user. The processing component 24 may transmit data tothe storage component 26 and/or transmits data to the renderingcomponent 22 for display.

An advantage of the system of the present invention directed todelivering user specific messages is that it can be used toautomatically deliver a calendar, a reminder, or an e-mail to a personin a building where, in a preferred embodiment, a scanned badge isrequired to enter the building. In the embodiment of the presentinvention directed to a public user, the system can also be used todeliver advertisements to a render-capable transaction card, forexample, a calling card, a credit card, or a metro card. Anotheradvantage of the system is that a user is more likely to see a messagewith newly changed information because it is more likely to grasp theuser's attention.

In another embodiment according to the invention, a plurality ofdistributed electronic messaging servers can be used instead of a singleelectronic mess aging server. Local individual servers may be tailoredto generate electronic messages for the general public in a specificlocality.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present application.It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited tothe exact forms and details described and illustrated herein, but fallswithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. A system for dynamically delivering and rendering electronic messageson a transaction card, which comprises: a server executing anapplication for generating an electronic message; a network enablingcommunication between the server and a transaction card reader fortransporting the electronic message; and a transaction card whichcommunicates with the network via the transaction card reader, thetransaction card includes a power source, and a rendering element whichcommunicates to a user the electronic message from the network.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the transaction card furtherincludes: a communication element which communicates with thetransaction card reader, the communication element identifies thetransaction card to the server, and the communication element receivesthe electronic message; and a processing element interacting with thecommunication element by forwarding the electronic message to therendering element.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein thetransaction card further includes: an identification (ID), the serverapplication differentiates messages as personal and public in accordancewith the ID, and the server delivers the electronic message to acorresponding transaction card.
 4. The system according to claim 2,wherein the transaction card further includes: a storage elementinteracting with the communication element and the processing elementfor storing at least part of the electronic message.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the transaction card reader reads andwrites to the communication element.
 6. The system according to claim 2,wherein the rendering element, the communication element, and theprocessing element include circuitry to communicate therebetween.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 2, wherein the communications element includesa wireless receptor for receiving the message from the transaction cardreader.
 8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the communicationelement and the processing element receive and transmit a hyper-link tothe rendering element.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein therendering element includes speakers for communicating to the user. 10.The system according to claim 1, wherein the rendering element includeselectronic paper for displaying a text message.
 11. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the rendering element includes a light emittingelement visible to the user.
 12. The system according to claim 1,wherein the transaction card further includes: a transaction card ID; acommunication element for identifying the transaction card to the serverusing the transaction card ID, the communication element receiving aspecific electronic message associated with the transaction card ID; anda processing clement interacting with the communication element bytransmitting the electronic message to the rendering element.
 13. Thesystem according to claim 12 wherein the transaction card furtherincludes a storage element interacting with the communication elementand the processing element for storing at least part of the electronicmessage and the transaction card ID.
 14. A system for dynamicallydelivering and rendering electronic messages on a transaction card,which comprises: a server executing an application for generating anelectronic message; a network enabling communication between the serverand a transaction card reader for transporting the electronic message; atransaction card which communicates with the network via the transactioncard reader; a communications element integral with the transactioncard, and adapted to communicate information with the transaction cardreader; a processing element integral with the transaction card andcommunicating with the communications element, the processing elementadapted to receive information from the communications element; astorage element integral with the transaction card and communicatingwith the processing element, the storage element adapted to receive andstore information from the processing element; a rendering elementintegral with the transaction card and communicating with the processingelement, the rendering element adapted to communicate to a user theelectronic message from the network; and a power source integral withthe transaction card and adapted to supply power to the processing,storage, and rendering elements.
 15. The system according to claim 14wherein the processing element retrieves information from the storageelement and transmits the information to the rendering element.
 16. Thesystem according to claim 15 wherein the processing, communication,rendering, and storage element include circuitry for communicatingtherebetween and are coupled to the power source.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 14 wherein the transaction card reader is adapted toread and write to the communications element of the transaction card.18. A method for dynamically delivering to and rendering electronicmessages on a transaction card, comprising: providing a transaction cardand a transaction card reader; providing a server including a programcapable of processing data and transporting data; providing networkcommunication between the transaction card reader and the server;communicating data between the transaction card and the transaction cardreader; communicating the data to the server via the network; processingthe data at the server; generating an electronic message at the serverbased on the data; transporting the electronic message to thetransaction card reader via the network; receiving the electronicmessage on the transaction card; and communicating the electronicmessage on the transaction card to a user.
 19. The method according toclaim 14 wherein communicating information between the transaction cardand the transaction card reader includes swiping the transaction cardthrough the transaction card reader.
 20. The method according to claim14 wherein communicating the electronic message on the transaction cardincludes displaying the message as text.